of connersville



C. L. DE MARTIN. ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I,19I8.

Patented Sept. 2.81919.

l, ne

PTH@ FFQEQ CHARLES L. DE MARTIN, OF CONNERSVILLE, NDIANA, ASSIGNOR TOINDIANA LAMP COMPANY, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

ramassa- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

tain new and useful lllectric lleadlight (.Lon-

trolgland lv do hereby declare that the 'tollowing is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

tion of the lamp needless.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction andoperation o'tf headlights for automobiles, launches and the like,wherein there isA a. tilting reflector, and wherein said tiltingreflector is operated or controlled by means utilizing the partialvacuum or suction in the intake manifold or other chamber incommunication' with the cylindersl of an internal combustion engine.This invention is made with particular reference for use in connectionwith what are known as Ford headlights, but it may also be used in.connection with other headlight constructions. V

One feature of the invention consists in mounting the cylinder 'forutilizing the partial Vacuum or suction, outside and to the rear of thelamp casing. ln lamps oil this type, the casing is relatively small andthere is no relatively great space between the casing and the reflectorand with this feature of the invention, said cylinder for utilizing thepartial vacuum or suction to operate the reflector can be attached tosuch lamps already made and makes a special construc- 'lhis gives to theinvention great practical value.

Another feature of the invention consists` in the means 'for connectingthe piston of the vacuum cylinder with the reflector.

Since such cylinder is located out ot' the lamp casing, the piston mustextend through a small hole bored in the lamp casing and special meansmust be provided for connecting or coupling the inner end ol the pistonwith the reflector, when it cannot be seen 0r manipulated. To that end,nieans is secured to the reflector adapted to engage the inner end ofthe piston when the latter is pushed .into place, and so that it can bedisengaged by merely withdrawing the piston.

`Another feature of the invention consists in mounting the vacuumcylinder so that it can be adjustable toward or away from the lampcasing for the purpose, of permanently changing the normal position olthe rellector and thus changing' the focus. This is a very importantl'eature olf the invention as it enables one to permanently adjust thedirection ot' light from the ,lamp and so that it can still beten'iporarily adjusted by the vacuum control.

Another feature ol the invention consists in the means for mounting thevacuum cylluder, in the form olE a bracket, litting against and securedto the llat rear end oi' lsurlace ol. the lamp case around theconnection or socket member at the rear end ol the lamp case.

The full nature otl the invention will be understood ll'rom theaccomlvmnying drawings and the following description and claims:

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the lampwith the parts in inoperated and unadjusted position. Fig. 2 is thesame, with lthe suction cylinder adjusted so that the piston rod holdsthe relleelor normally in a tilted position so as to change thedirection ol the rays oil the lamp. Fig. 3:5 is the same with thesuction apparatus operated so as to tilt the rellector more than in Fig.Fig. l is a section on the line `rl-1lv o'l" Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a rearelevation ol a portion of the lamp showing' the mounting oi the vacuumcylinder, the lamp casing being partially broken away. Fig. (l is acentral vertical section through the rear portion olt the lamp casingand associated parts, parts being broken away. Fig. 7 is a radialsection through a portion ol. the lamp structure showing the connectionbetween the lamp casing, door, lens, rclecl-or and reflector ring, on anenlarged scale. elevation oi. a portion oll the lamp casing and thercllector ring in locking position, parts being broken away.

'lhe Ford lamp has a casing l() shaped like the end ol au ellipse` theapex bcing flattened at 1l where the, rearn'm-dlv exlending sockethousing 1;). is secured.

The lamp has at its l'roul end the usual leus ll which is held in by aring l-l which is mounted in a door ol' the. lamp by clips l5. The doorhas inwardly-cxtending lugs 16 which enter slots in the l'ront portionol the lamp casing, whereby the door is held Fig. S isa front in place.A lens bears and presses against a cord packing 17 on the reflector ring18 which is removably mounted ,in the front part of the casingand'bearsagainst spring fingers 19.

A reflector 20 is hinged' at its upper por@ tion to the reflector rinl18 by a pivot or hinge 21, so that the re ector is suspended and cantilt backward or forward, as shown. The invention, however, is notlimited to any particular mounting of the reflector or arrangementthereof so long as the reflector is movable or tiltable. in a socket 23in the rear central portion of the reflector and a suitable insulatingwiring connection 2el-is provided whereby the current issupplied to thelamp. The lamp on the Whole is supported on the automobile by a singlearm or post 25 which at-its up` er end is secured to a plate 26 havingfour radiating arms that are riveted to the casing of the lamp. l Inorder to equip an ordinary Ford` lamp or the like with this invention,the old reflector is removed and the reflector construction shownherein, including reflector ring 18 and reflector 20 hinged thereto, issubstituted. Also the focusingdevice found in such lamps is. also.removed and in place thereof the socket and socket housing 12 aresecured,.the inner end of the housing 12 having a flaring plate which isfastened to the Hat portion of the casing by the screws 27. Also aho1e`28 has to be drilled in the casing for the piston rod 30 when thereflector is actually controlled by the means herein shown. Thereflector actuating and controlling means is then added to the lamp andthe fo-rm thereof herein disclosed is as follows: A vacuum cylinder 31is adjustably mounted in a clamping member 32 that is connected with thebracket 33. The upper portion of this bracket is circular and surroundsthe socket housing 12 and is secured to the flat portion of the lampI.casing by the screw 27. The clamp 32 is held tight b a screw 34, seeFig. 5. The vacuum cylin er 31 is connected by a small pipe or conduit36 with the manifold of an internal combustion engineor other means forcreating a vacuum in said cylinder so as to cause the withdrawal oroperation of the piston 37 in the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 3. Suchmovement of the c linder, through the piston rod 30 draws I ackward ,thelower end of the reflector 2() and ti'ltsit so as to change the focus ordirection of the shaft of light from the lamp. The piston is returned toits normal position, as shown in Fig. \1, Vby a spring 38 within thecylinderl' The piston rbd 30 can be connected in any desired Way'Withthe reflector, but it should be in such way' as to to en'able theconnection -to be made without either seeing the con-- necting parts ormanipulating them. In

A lamp 22 is secured other word-s, -the through the hole-28 and in theforms here shown the inner end of the piston rod is a ball 39, that isforced between a pair ofv spring metal plates ll0 secured to the un'-derside of. the reflector' and having oppositely located holes 41therein into which the ball of the piston rod seats itself. The

friction between the b all 39 and the plates j L11 is sufficient tomaintain the. connection and yet permit the separation ofthe piston rodby its forcible withdrawal and, as stated above, 'permit the connectionto be established by the forcible insertion of the piston rod.

Onefeature of the invention consists in the connection between thereflector 20 and reflector ring 18 and the shape of the latter so thatno. dust or water can enter the lamp behind the reflector. To make suchjoint, the internal dia-meter of the outer edge of the reflector isgreater than and overlaps piston 30 is inserted .I

the inner edge of the reflector ring 18, and

the ring is transversely offset, as shown in cross section, toward thefront so 'as to deflect dust and water to the front and pro-v tect thereflector. Also the ring 18 is pro vided with a groove or annular seatinto which the flange of the reflector is seated tc the rear ofthe'ring.

In order that the Ireflector when -put inl the lamp may be positioned tocause the spring holders to register with and properly receive theenlarged end of the piston rod when it is inserted through the hole 28in the casing, there are stop lugs'50 on the reflector ring 18 adaptedto engage stamped in lugs 51 on the lamp casing as said ring is givenangular movement. The details of this construction are indicated in Figi8.

This invention, therefore, is 'rigidly attached to an ordinary lamp ofthe Ford type. and when so attached, affords a tilting reflector withall of its ,advantages and a satisfactory means for operating andcontrolling the reflector, by utilizing the artial vacuum or suction inthe manifol or some part of the engine.-

The invention claimed is: c 1. A lamp having a casing, a reflectormounted therein so as to be tiltable, a fluid `actuated means mountedoutside of the casing, a rod connected with said fluid actuated meansand extending loosely through the casing, and means whereby said rod maybe insertibly connected with the reflector for actuating the same anddisengaged by withdrawing it therefrom.

2. A= lamp having a casing with a flattened rear surface, a reflectormounted in said casing so as to be tiltable, al bracket secured to theouter surface of the flattened portion of the lamp casing, a vacuumcylinder carried by said bracket outside of the lamp casing, and aeisten rod extendjug from said cylinder loosely through seid vacuumcasing :md connected. with the reflector for operating and controllingit.

3,'A lump having n lump easing, :L reflector tiltnbly mounted therein, uSocket liolisiiugr extending eentrelly from the rear portion of saidcasing, u bracket surrounding said housing and secured to the easing, avacuum cylinder carried by Suid bracket outside of the lmnp easing, und:i piston rod extending from seid cylinder loosely through Said vacuumeasing und connected with the reflector' for operating und conn trollingit.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto nlxed 15 my signature in thepr'wenee of the witnesses herein named.

CHARLES L. DE MARTIN.

